CONTENTS
Contents
LSE
LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE
Lasers in Action 4
The latest laser applications from around the
There is real hope among economic
world, plus news from laser suppliers and
experts that we’re ‘through the worst’ at the
integrators
very least; what is now open to question is
the pace of whatever recovery lays ahead.
Profi le: GSI Group 8
However, potential users of laser systems
Tom Wilkie meets the laser system group
can now plan ahead with some degree of
tackling the recession head-on
confi dence that they will be able to afford
the capital outlay of a new laser installation
Feature: Plastics 10
4 – particularly when factoring in the huge
Greg Blackman on the appropriate laser
savings in effi ciency that lasers bring to
technologies for marking and welding plastics
10
many manufacturing processes.
As ever, choosing the right laser
Feature: Aerospace 14
technology for your application is critical to
Stephen Mounsey looks at the plethora of
the success of any project. The nature of
applications of lasers in the aerospace industry
plastic materials means that there are
several factors that have to be taken into
Preview: Photonics West 16
account when welding or marking,
Warren Clark previews the laser-related
including the type of laser, spot size – and,
technologies due to be shown at Photonics
in the case of welding, the properties of the
West in January
two substrates being welded together.
Greg Blackman tackles these issues and
Products 20
14 more in his feature on page 10.
The latest lasers, laser systems, safety and
The complex process of aircraft design is
test equipment from around the world
an industry that has benefi ted from laser
technology. In just one example in Stephen
LIA News 27
Mounsey’s feature on page 14, it has
The Laser Institute of America’s regular
enabled the micrometre-accurate drilling of
section on its activities, courses and
millions of tiny holes in turbine blades to
conferences – including a report from the
help with temperature regulation.
recent ICALEO event in Florida
Finally, we have a preview of Photonics
West, one of the largest gatherings of
photonics technology and often the place
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Editor Warren Clark (editor.lasersystems@europascience.com) Feature Writer Greg Blackman (greg.blackman@europascience.com)
where one gets the fi rst glimpse of exciting
Assistant Editor Stephen Mounsey (stephen.mounsey@europascience.com)
new products for the year ahead. Our
Circulation/readership enquiries Viv Ruskin (subs@europascience.com)
preview starts on page 16.
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Warren Clark Editor
CORPORATE TEAM Chairman Dr Tom Wilkie (tom.wilkie@europascience.com)
Publishing Director Warren Clark (warren.clark@europascience.com)
Laser Systems Europe is published by Europa Science Ltd, The Spectrum Building, The Michael Young Centre, Purbeck Road,
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Supported by the LIA
Cover: Images from Shutterstock; montage by David Houghton
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www.lasersystemseurope.com ISSUE 5 • LASER SYSTEMS EUROPE 3
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